Luckenbach

In the small hamlet of Luckenbach, Texas where "Everybody's Somebody" there is a magic, a musical magic.  It started back in 1849 when August Engel's daughter, Minna chose the name Luckenbach in honor of her fiancé, Albert Luckenbach. For years the town remained in the Engel family, but in 1970 Benno Engel put an ad in the local paper and sold the town.  It was purchased by Hondo Crouch and friends.  Hondo declared himself Mayor and made Marge the Sheriff.  He even appointed ambassadors to foreign countries.  There were "Hug-Ins", "World Fairs", "Ladies Chili Cook-offs" and a Mud Dauber Fest.  Under the 500-year old live oak trees were daily sessions of chit and chat, song-picking, domino playing and of course beer drinking.  In 1973 Jerry Jeff Walker came to Luckenbach to record an album, Viva Terlingua; it went gold. Four years later Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman penned "Luckenbach Texas" which became a hit for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.  Hondo and Sheriff Marge passed away but their spirits carry forward as do the songs. And new songs are added everyday.

Our first contact when we visited this small hamlet was Danny Terry.
He sat against the old oak with his battered hat and that mischievous twinkle in his eye.  His magical personality caught us into conversation and when he pulled that old guitar up and started singing one of his songs we were mesmerized as the spirit of Luckenbach filled our very souls.  There were others that sang under those old trees: Dale Mayfield, Bill Lewis, Hal Brown on harmonica, Cowboy Doug Davis, Jay Sims, John Bardy, Mike Haylee,  Cathy Bauer, Thomas Michael Reiley,  Jake Martin, Robert Kent, Mike Blakley, Gary Nunn, Jimmy Lee Jones, ....  Pofeee had his accordion talk the melodies.  Shan Kowert met Annie Acton; they made music come alive with his 12-string guitar and her powerful voice. The Gypsy Cowgirls had a style like no others. Jimmy Lee (Sausage) made you think Elvis was in the house. Levi Darr's hands were on fire on his guitar or his fiddle.  Rick Boss playing the harmonica like a ghost from behind the bar.  Bryan Moldondo and Melissa Weatherly were the soul music makers. And there is Walt Perryman, the Cowboy Poet of true stories.  As the years passed so did some of the best; some to the great up above and some to other venues, but their music remains. There are new voices in the house: David Harris, Dan Cowert, Gary Jones, Richard Bidman, Roger Moon and many that we only know by first names: Conrad, Paul, Norm, Thomas, Frank on bass, Trish from West Creek, Mar and Gonzo, Kevin.... 

People come here and some get it; they listen.  Others just come, drink a beer, talk to their friends; they don't get it.










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